Adjustable rotisserie

Abstract

There is provided an adjustable rotisserie having a fire bowl containing a heat source. An elongated rotatable shaft including a pair of prongs attached thereto for holding the food to be cooked is located above the fire bowl. A frame assembly which may be continuously raised and lowered contacts the shaft. The frame assembly, and thus the food, is raised and lowered by a jack which contacts the frame assembly. A motor is attached to the frame assembly for rotating the shaft so that the shaft may be continuously raised and lowered with respect to the fire bowl while the shaft is continuously rotated.

I claim: 
     
       1. An adjustable rotisserie comprising: a fire bowl for containing a heat source;   an elongated rotatable shaft;   at least one prong attached to said shaft for holding food to be cooked;   a frame; said frame contacting said shaft;   at least one guide member attached to said fire bowl;   a portion of said frame slidably received by said guide member;   a motor for rotating said shaft; said motor attached to said frame; a mechanism for raising and lowering simultaneously said frame, said shaft and said motor identical distances so that the distance between said shaft and said motor remains constant, whereby said shaft may be raised and lowered with respect to said fire bowl while continuously rotating; said mechanism for raising and lowering including a jack; said mechanism for raising and lowering further includes a plurality of gears.   
     
     
       2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mechanism for raising and lowering further includes a hand crank. 
     
     
       3. An adjustable rotisserie comprising: a fire bowl for containing a heat source;   an elongated rotatable shaft;   at least one prong attached to said shaft for holding food to be cooked;   a frame; said frame contacting said shaft;   a motor for rotating said shaft; said motor attached to said frame; a mechanism for raising and lowering simultaneously said frame, said shaft and said motor identical distances so that the distance between said shaft and said motor remains constant, whereby said shaft may be raised and lowered with respect to said fire bowl while continuously rotating; said frame includes a pair of vertical rods and a horizontal rod connected between said vertical rods;   at least one guide member attached to said fire bowl;   at least one of said vertical rods slidably received by said guide member.   
     
     
       4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, further including a jack; a portion of said jack contacting a portion of said horizontal rod for raising and lowering said frame. 
     
     
       5. An adjustable rotisserie comprising: a fire bowl for containing a heat source;   an elongated rotatable shaft;   at least one prong attached to said shaft for holding food to be cooked;   a frame; said frame contacting said shaft;   at least one guide member attached to said fire bowl;   a portion of said frame slidably received by said guide member;   a motor for rotating said shaft; said motor attached to said frame; a mechanism for raising and lowering simultaneously said frame, said shaft and said motor identical distances so that the distance between said shaft and said motor remains constant, whereby said shaft may be raised and lowered with respect to said fire bowl while continuously rotating; said assembly further including a belt attached to said motor and to said shaft.   
     
     
       6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tension of the belt is substantially constant for various elevations of said shaft. 
     
     
       7. An adjustable rotisserie assembly comprising: a fire bowl for containing a heat source;   an elongated rotatable shaft;   at least one prong attached to said shaft for holding food to be cooked;   a frame; said frame including a pair of vertical rods and a horizontal rod connected between said vertical rods;   at least one guide member attached to Said fire bowl;   at least one of said vertical rods slidably received by said guide member;   at least one of said vertical rods connected to said rotatable shaft;   a motor connected to at least one of said vertical rods;   a mechanism connected to said motor and to said shaft for rotating said shaft;   a jack contacting said horizontal rod for raising and lowering simultaneously said frame, said shaft and said motor identical distances so that the distance between said shaft and said motor remains constant, whereby said shaft may be raised and lowered with respect to said fire bowl while continuously rotating.